Liquid dispensing method and system with headspace gas removal

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispensing method and system for dispensing from a container including an outer container and an inner container, a portion of the inner container occupied by the liquid, a remainder of the inner container occupied by a headspace gas. The system includes a probe having a flow passage therein and a gas passage communicating between the interior of the inner container and an exterior of the outer container. Fluid (such as air or nitrogen) is caused to flow under pressure into a space between inner walls of the outer container and the inner container to force the headspace gas out of the inner container via the gas passage and to force liquid out of the inner container through the flow passage in the probe to a manufacturing process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage and dispensing system for thestorage and dispensing of liquids. In particular, the present inventionrelates to a method and system for dispensing liquid to a manufacturingprocess from a container including a headspace gas.

Certain manufacturing processes require the use of liquid chemicals suchas acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, dopants, inorganic solutions,organic solutions, biological solutions, pharmaceuticals, andradioactive chemicals. Storage and dispensing systems allow alternativecontainers to be used to deliver liquid chemicals to a manufacturingprocess at a specified time. These process liquids are usually dispensedfrom pressurized storage and dispensing containers by special dispensingpumps.

After filling these containers at a filling facility, the containers aretypically shipped to a location for use in a manufacturing process. Onceat the manufacturing process facility, these containers may be storedfor an extended period of time before being connected to a manufacturingprocess. However, the purity of some of the above-listed chemicals has atendency to decay when stored for an extended period of time. Forexample, in the manufacture of thin film transistor flat panel displays,the color filter chemical used tends to decay as free radicals in thecolor filter chemical are released during shipment and storage as aresult of temperature fluctuations. To prevent this from occurring, anempty portion of the container, referred to as the headspace, is filledwith a headspace gas. The headspace gas prevents the decay of the liquidchemical by inhibiting chemical reactions from occurring in the liquidduring storage. For example, in the case of the color filter chemical, aheadspace gas including oxygen is introduced into the container at thefilling facility, since oxygen has a tendency to scavenge free radicalsin the chemical as they are released, thereby preventing the decay ofthe color filter chemical.

When the container is to be connected to the manufacturing process, theheadspace gas is no longer needed or desired. Thus, the headspace gasmust be removed prior to dispensing the liquid to the manufacturingprocess. However, caution must be exercised to avoid agitating thecontainer or forcing the headspace gas into the liquid chemical whiledraining the headspace gas. The introduction of gas into the liquidchemical may result in the formation of air bubbles in the chemical,which can render the liquid chemical defective for use in themanufacturing process.

Furthermore, it may be desired to leave a small amount of gas in thecontainer after removal of the headspace gas. When all of the liquid hasbeen dispensed from the container, this small amount of empty detect gasis detected by the dispenser to indicate that the container is empty. Inconventional systems, the amount of empty detect gas remaining in thecontainer is not easily controllable.

Thus, a system that allows for easy removal of headspace gas and, ifdesired, easy regulation of the amount of empty detect gas remaining inthe container after headspace gas removal is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method and system for dispensing liquidchemical to a manufacturing process from a container including an outercontainer and an inner container, a portion of the inner containeroccupied by the liquid chemical, a remainder of the inner containeroccupied by a headspace gas. The system includes a probe having a flowpassage therein insertable into an interior of the inner container, anda gas passage communicating between the interior of the inner containerand an exterior of the outer container. The system further includesmeans in fluid communication with a space between inner walls of theouter container and the inner container for permitting fluid underpressure to flow into the space between the inner walls of the outercontainer and the inner container to force the headspace gas out of theinner container via the gas passage to a headspace gas drain and toforce liquid out of the inner container through the flow passage in theprobe to the manufacturing process.

In a preferred embodiment, the system further includes a drain valveconnected between the headspace gas drain and the gas passage. The drainvalve has an open position selectable to allow the headspace gas toevacuate to the headspace gas drain via the gas passage. The drain valvealso has a closed position selectable when the headspace gas has beenexhausted from the interior of the inner container. The system alsopreferably includes a liquid sensor connected between the gas passageand the headspace gas drain to sense when liquid chemical begins to flowin the gas passage to indicate that the headspace gas has been exhaustedfrom the interior of the inner container.

The system also preferably includes an empty detect means for detectingwhen the liquid chemical has been exhausted from the inner container. Inone embodiment, the empty detect means is an empty detect gas sensor. Inuse, a small amount of empty detect gas is introduced to an interior ofthe inner container immediately prior to dispensing of the liquidchemical to the manufacturing process. The empty detect gas sensorsenses this empty detect gas when the liquid chemical has been exhaustedfrom the container. When the empty detect gas is sensed by the emptydetect gas sensor, dispensing of liquid to the manufacturing process isterminated. In another embodiment, the empty detect means includes ascale for weighing the fluid container while the liquid is dispensed tothe manufacturing process such that dispensing of the liquid isterminated when the fluid container reaches a predetermined empty weightas measured by the scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a system according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention for dispensing liquid to a manufacturing processfrom a container including a headspace gas provided to stabilize theliquid during shipment and storage of the container.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a system according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention for dispensing liquid to amanufacturing process from a container including a headspace gasprovided to stabilize the liquid during shipment and storage of thecontainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic of system 10 according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention for dispensing liquid 12 to manufacturingprocess 13 from container 14 including headspace 16 filled withheadspace gas 18. Container 16 includes flexible inner container 20 andrigid outer container 22. System 10 further includes compression air ornitrogen supply 30, compression air passage 32, headspace gas passage34, drain valve 36, liquid sensor 38, headspace gas drain 40, flowpassage 42, container scale 44, and system control 46.

Compression air supply 30 is connected to compression space 31 (i.e.,the space between inner walls of outer container 22 and outer surfacesof the inner container 20) via compression air passage 32. The interiorof inner container 20 is connected to headspace gas drain 40 via gaspassage 34. Drain valve 36 and liquid sensor 38 are connected along gaspassage 34 between the interior of inner container 20 and headspace gasdrain 40. Finally, the interior of inner container 20 is in fluidcommunication with manufacturing process 13 via flow passage 42.

Gas passage 34 and flow passage 42 are preferably combined in a singleconnector package such that the interior of inner container 20 comesinto fluid communication with headspace gas drain 40 and manufacturingprocess 13 with one connection. Flow passage 42 is typically provided ina probe that is insertable through a port of the container and intoinner container 20 to provide fluid communication between liquid 12 andmanufacturing process 13.

Outer container 22 provides the mechanical support and protectionrequired by flexible inner container 20 (e.g., a flexible polymeric bag)during filling, transport, handling, and dispensing. Outer container 22is typically constructed of metal, although other materials, includingplastic materials, may also be used, depending upon governmentregulatory specifications for handling of the particular liquid to becontained within container 14. Preferably, container 14 is a containeras shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,821 to Osgar issued on Aug. 9, 1994,which is herein incorporated by reference.

System control 46, which is preferably a microprocessor-based controlsystem, is connected to compression air supply 30, drain valve 36,liquid sensor 38, and container scale 44. System control 46 controlsoperation of system 10 based upon signals received from the variouscomponents of system 10.

Prior to attachment to manufacturing process 13, container 14 is filledat a filling facility. During filling, inner container 20 is firstinflated with a gas such as nitrogen. Liquid 12 is then introducedthrough a port in container 14 to fill inner container 20 within outercontainer 22.

The purity of some chemicals has a tendency to decay when stored for anextended period of time, especially when subjected to temperaturefluctuations. For example, in the manufacture of thin film transistorflat panel displays, the color filter chemical used tends to decay orcross-link as free radicals in the color filter chemical are releasedduring shipment and storage. To prevent this from occurring, an emptyportion of the container, headspace 16, is filled with headspace gas 18.Headspace gas 18 prevents the decay of liquid 12 by inhibiting chemicalreactions from occurring in liquid 12 during shipment and storage ofcontainer 14. For example, in the case of the color filter chemical, aheadspace gas 18 including oxygen is introduced into inner container 20at the filling facility, since oxygen has a tendency to scavenge freeradicals in the chemical as they are released, thereby preventing thedecay or cross-linking of the color filter chemical.

When container 14 is to be connected to manufacturing process 13,headspace gas 18 is no longer needed or desired. Thus, headspace gas 18must be removed prior to dispensing liquid 12 to manufacturing process13. To begin, compression air passage 32, gas passage 34, and flowpassage 42 are connected to container 14. A signal is then sent bysystem control 46, which is preferably a microprocessor-based system, toopen drain valve 36. This produces a fluidic connection between theinterior of inner container 20 and headspace gas drain 40. Subsequently,pressurized fluid, preferably compressed air or nitrogen, is supplied tocompression space 31 by compression air supply 30 to force headspace gas18 through gas passage 34, through liquid sensor 38, and to headspacegas drain 40. As headspace gas 18 is withdrawn from inner container 20of container 14, air is permitted to enter compression space 31, therebycollapsing flexible inner container 20. While inner container 20 ispreferably collapsed with pressurized air, any means capable ofcollapsing inner container 20 to force headspace gas 18 through gaspassage 34 may be used, including hydraulic or mechanical based devices.Alternatively, a pump connected to gas passage 34 can withdraw headspacegas 18 from container 14.

After headspace gas 18 has been exhausted from inner container 20,liquid 12 begins to flow in gas passage 34 as compressed air supply 30continues to supply air to compression space 31. When liquid 12 reachesliquid sensor 38, a signal is sent to system control 46 to close drainvalve 36. This terminates the connection between the interior of innercontainer 20 and headspace gas drain 40. Alternatively, a user of system10 may visually determine when liquid 12 begins to flow in gas passage34 and manually turn off drain valve 36 to terminate the connection toheadspace gas drain 40.

When the connection between the interior of inner container 20 andheadspace gas drain 40 has been terminated, liquid 12 is forced upthrough flow passage 42 as compressed air continues to be supplied tocompression space 31 by compressed air supply 30. As liquid 12 iswithdrawn from flexible inner container 20 of container 14, air ispermitted to enter compression space 31, thereby collapsing innercontainer 20. While inner container 20 is preferably collapsed withpressurized air, any means capable of collapsing inner container 20 toforce liquid through flow passage 42 may be used, including hydraulic ormechanical based devices. Alternatively, a pump or venturi connected toflow passage 42 can withdraw liquid 12 from container 14.

At this point, it is important to note that had headspace gas 18 notbeen removed prior to dispensing liquid 12 to manufacturing process 13,headspace gas 18 would begin to dissolve into solution pursuant toHenry's law. Henry's law states that, at a constant temperature, theamount of gas dissolved in a solution is directly proportional to thepressure of the gas above the solution. Thus, because inner container 20is collapsed by compressed air supply 30 to force liquid 12 out of innercontainer 20, the pressure of headspace gas 18 would increase duringthis process. This would cause headspace gas 18 to dissolve into liquid12, thereby resulting in deleterious bubble formation when liquid 12 isdelivered to process 13.

As liquid 12 is being dispensed to manufacturing process 13, the weightof container 14 decreases. Container scale 44 continually weighscontainer 14 as liquid 12 is dispensed to manufacturing process 13 todetermine when container 14 reaches a predetermined empty weight. Theempty weight of container 14 is the weight of outer container 22 with anempty inner container 20 inside. The determination of the empty weightby container scale 44 assures that all of liquid 12 is dispensed frominner container 20.

When container scale 44 determines that container 14 is empty, systemcontrol 46 sends a signal to turn off compression air supply 30.Subsequently, compression air passage 32, gas passage 34, and flowpassage 42 are disconnected from empty container 14, empty container 14is removed from system 10, and a new container 14 containing liquid 12and headspace gas 18 is connected to system 10. Dispensing of liquid 12from container 14 then recommences.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of system 50 according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention for dispensing liquid 12 tomanufacturing process 13 from container 14. Container 14 includesheadspace gas 18 provided to stabilize liquid 12 during shipment andstorage of container 14. Container 16 includes flexible inner container20 and rigid outer container 22. Similar to system 10 shown in FIG. 1,system 50 includes compression air supply 30, compression air passage32, headspace gas passage 34, liquid sensor 38, headspace gas drain 40,flow passage 42, and system control 46. Additionally, system 50 includesempty detect gas supply 52, regulator gauge 54, first block valve 55,gas quantity controller 56, second block valve 58, select valve 60, andempty detect gas sensor 62.

Compression air supply 30 is connected to compression space 31 viacompression air passage 32. Select valve 60 is a three-port valveconnecting the interior of inner container 20 (via gas passage 34) tothe devices connected to select valve port 60 a or select valve port 60b, depending on the position state of select valve 60. Morespecifically, in a first position select valve 60 provides a fluidicconnection between the interior of inner container 20 and the devicesconnected to port 60 a (i.e., liquid sensor 38 and headspace gas drain40). Liquid sensor 38 is connected between select valve 60 and headspacegas drain 40. In a second position, select valve 60 provides a fluidicconnection between the interior of inner container 20 and the devicesconnected to port 60 b (i.e., empty detect gas supply 52, regulatorgauge 54, first block valve 55, gas quantity controller 56, and secondblock valve 58). Regulator gauge 54, first block valve 55, gas quantitycontroller 56, and second block valve 58 are connected between emptydetect gas supply 52 and select valve 60. Finally, the interior of innercontainer 20 is in fluid communication with manufacturing process 13 viaflow passage 42. Empty detect gas sensor 62 is connected along flowpassage 42.

Gas passage 34, flow passage 42, and select valve 60 are preferablycombined in a single connector package such that the interior of innercontainer 20 is connected to headspace gas drain 40, empty detect gassupply 52, and manufacturing process 13 with one connection. Flowpassage 42 is typically provided in a probe that is insertable through aport of the container and into inner container 20 to provide fluidcommunication between liquid 12 and manufacturing process 13.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, system control 46 is connected tocompression air supply 30, liquid sensor 38, regulator gauge 54, firstblock valve 55, second block valve 58, select valve 60, and empty detectgas sensor 62. System control 46 controls operation of system 50 basedupon signals received from the various components of system 50.

As described above, when container 14 is to be connected tomanufacturing process 13, headspace gas 18 is no longer needed ordesired. Thus, headspace gas 18 must be removed prior to dispensingliquid 12 to manufacturing process 13. The procedure of removingheadspace gas 18 from container 14 in system 50 is similar to the sameprocess in system 10. To begin, compression air passage 32, gas passage34, and flow passage 42 are connected to container 14. System control 46then sends a signal select valve 60 to turn to its first position toproduce a fluidic connection between the interior of inner container 20and headspace gas drain 40 (via select valve port 60 a). A user ofsystem 50 may also manually turn select valve 60 to its first position.Subsequently, pressurized fluid, preferably compressed air or nitrogen,is supplied by compressed air supply 30 to compression space 31 to forceheadspace gas 18 through gas passage 34, through liquid sensor 38, andto headspace gas drain 40. As headspace gas 18 is withdrawn from innercontainer 20 of container 14, air is permitted to enter compressionspace 31, thereby collapsing flexible inner container 20. While innercontainer 20 is preferably collapsed with pressurized air, any meanscapable of collapsing inner container 20 to force headspace gas 18through gas passage 34 may be used, including hydraulic or mechanicalbased devices. Alternatively, a pump or venturi connected to gas passage34 can withdraw headspace gas 18 from container 14.

After headspace gas 18 has been exhausted from inner container 20,liquid 12 begins to flow in gas passage 34 as compressed air supply 30continues to supply air to compression space 31. When liquid 12 reachesliquid sensor 38, system control 46 responds by turning select valve 60to the second position. This terminates the connection between theinterior of inner container 20 and headspace gas drain 40, and opens theconnection between the interior of inner container 20 and select valveport 60 b. Alternatively, a user of system 50 may visually determinewhen liquid 12 begins to flow in gas passage 34 and manually turn selectvalve 60 to the second position to terminate the connection to headspacegas drain 40.

At this point, it is important to note again that, had headspace gas 18not been removed prior to dispensing liquid 12 to manufacturing process13, headspace gas 18 would begin to dissolve into solution pursuant toHenry's law. Because inner container 20 is collapsed by compressed airsupply 30 to force liquid 12 out of inner container 20, the pressure ofheadspace gas 18 would increase during this process. This would causeheadspace gas 18 to dissolve into liquid 12, thereby resulting indeleterious bubble formation in liquid 12 as it is delivered to process13.

In many liquid dispense systems, it is desirable to leave a small amountof gas in container 14 after removal of headspace gas 18. When all ofliquid 12 has been dispensed from container 14, this small amount ofgas, referred to as empty detect gas, is detected by a sensor (forexample, empty detect gas sensor 62 in FIG. 2) to indicate that thecontainer is empty. In conventional systems, the amount of empty detectgas remaining in container 14 is not easily controllable, since theamount of gas being exhausted to headspace gas drain 40 is not easilymeasurable.

In system 50, the addition of empty detect gas into inner container 20is controlled by empty detect gas supply 52, regulator gauge 54, firstblock valve 55, gas quantity controller 56, and second block valve 58.To begin, system control 46 opens first block valve 55 to produce afluidic connection between empty detect gas supply 52 and gas quantitycontroller 56. Empty detect gas then begins to flow into gas quantitycontroller 56 from empty detect gas supply 52. As gas quantitycontroller 56 fills with empty detect gas, the pressure in gas quantitycontroller 56 increases. The pressure is regulated by regulator gauge 54and may be measured by a pressure transducer integrated into gasquantity controller 56. The amount of empty detect gas that flows intogas quantity controller 56 depends on the capacity volume of gasquantity controller 56 and the pressure of the empty detect gas in gasquantity controller 56. Based on these factors, empty detect gas supply52 continues to flow until gas quantity controller 56 is filled with thedesired amount of gas (e.g., 100 pounds per square inch gauge).

When the desired amount of gas has filled gas quantity controller 56,system control 46 closes first block valve 55 to terminate theconnection between empty detect gas supply 52 and gas quantitycontroller 56. Subsequently or simultaneously, system control 46 openssecond block valve 58 to produce a fluidic connection between gasquantity controller 56 and the interior of inner container 20. Thisallows the empty detect gas contained in gas quantity controller 56 toflow into the interior of inner container 20. If compression air supply30 is turned off while empty detect gas flows from gas quantitycontroller 56 into inner container 20, the empty detect gas contained ingas quantity controller 56 will flow into inner container 20. Ifcompression air supply 30 remains active while empty detect gas flowsfrom gas quantity controller 56 into inner container 20, empty detectgas will flow from gas quantity controller 56 into inner container 20until an equilibrium pressure is reached between compression air supply30 and the pressure in gas quantity controller 56. Typically, whethercompression air supply 30 is active is controlled by a two-way or athree-way valve connected between compression air supply 30 andcompression space 31. In general, the amount of empty detect gas thatflows from gas quantity controller 56 into inner container 20 is basedon the size of gas quantity controller 56, the difference in pressurebetween gas quantity controller 56, and the pressure in compressionspace 31.

After empty detect gas has stopped flowing from gas quantity controller56, system control 46 closes second block valve 58 to terminate theconnection from gas quantity controller 56 to inner container 20. Aftersecond block valve 58 is closed, liquid 12 is forced up through flowpassage 42 as compressed air is supplied to compression space 31 bycompressed air supply 30. As liquid 12 is withdrawn from flexible innercontainer 20 of container 14, air is permitted to enter compressionspace 31, thereby collapsing inner container 20. While inner container20 is preferably collapsed with pressurized air, any means capable ofcollapsing inner container 20 to force liquid through flow passage 42may be used, including hydraulic or mechanical based devices.Alternatively, a pump or venturi connected to flow passage 42 canwithdraw liquid 12 from container 14.

As inner container 20 is collapsed by compression air supply 30, liquid12 continues to flow to manufacturing process 13 until liquid 12 isexhausted from inner container 20. After liquid 12 has been exhaustedfrom inner container 20, only the empty detect gas remains in innercontainer 20. As compression air supply 30 continues to compress innercontainer 20, the empty detect gas is forced through flow passage 42toward manufacturing process 13. When the empty detect gas passesthrough empty detect gas sensor 62, empty detect gas sensor 62 sends asignal to system control 46 to turn off compression air supply 30,thereby terminating operation of system 50. Subsequently, compressionair passage 32, gas passage 34, and flow passage 42 are disconnectedfrom empty container 14, empty container 14 is removed from system 50,and a new container 14 containing liquid 12 and headspace gas 18 isconnected to system 50. Dispensing of liquid 12 from container 14 thenrecommences.

In summary, the purity of some chemicals has a tendency to decay orcross-link when stored for an extended period of time, especially whensubjected to temperature fluctuations. To prevent this decay orcross-linking from occurring, an empty portion of the container,referred to as the headspace, is filled with a headspace gas. Theheadspace gas prevents the decay of the liquid chemical by inhibitingchemical reactions from occurring in the liquid during storage. When thecontainer is to be connected to a manufacturing process, the headspacegas is no longer needed or desired. Conventional dispensing systems donot allow for the easy removal of the headspace gas prior to dispensingthe liquid chemical. The present invention is a method and system fordispensing liquid chemical to a manufacturing process from a containerincluding an outer container, an inner container, and a port whichcommunicates with an interior of the inner container, a portion of theinner container occupied by the liquid chemical, a remainder of theinner container occupied by a headspace gas for preventing decay of theliquid chemical until the container is connected to a manufacturingprocess. The system includes a probe having a flow passage therein and agas passage communicating between the interior of the inner containerand an exterior of the outer container. The system further includesmeans in fluid communication with a compression space between innerwalls of the outer container and the inner container for permittingfluid under pressure to flow into the space between the inner walls ofthe outer container and the inner container to force the headspace gasout of the inner container via the gas passage to a headspace gas drainand to force liquid out of the inner container through the flow passagein the probe to the manufacturing process.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A method of dispensing a liquid, the method comprising: providing afluid container having an outer container and an inner container, aportion of the inner container occupied by a liquid, a remainder of theinner container occupied by a headspace gas; evacuating the headspacegas from the inner container; and supplying pressure to the innercontainer to force liquid from the inner container to a manufacturingprocess.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying pressure to theinner container comprises: supplying fluid under pressure between theinner container and the outer container to dispense liquid from theinner container to a manufacturing process.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein prior to evacuating the headspace gas, the method furthercomprises: attaching a connector to the fluid container, the connectorincluding a probe having a flow passage therein, the connector furtherincluding a gas passage communicating between the interior of the innercontainer and an exterior of the outer container.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein evacuating the headspace gas comprises: connecting a drainvalve between a headspace gas drain and the gas passage; opening thedrain valve to allow the headspace gas to evacuate to the headspace gasdrain via the gas passage; and closing the drain valve when the liquidbegins to flow in the gas passage.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinprior to closing the drain valve, the method further comprises:supplying fluid under pressure between the inner container and the outercontainer to force the headspace gas out of the inner container via thegas passage to the headspace gas drain.
 6. The method of claim 4including: connecting a liquid sensor between the gas passage and theheadspace gas drain to sense when liquid begins to flow in the gaspassage.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to supplying fluidunder pressure between the inner container and the outer container, themethod further comprises: introducing an amount of empty detect gas intothe inner container.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein introducing anamount of empty detect gas into the inner container comprises:connecting a first block valve, a gas quantity controller, and a secondblock valve between an empty detect gas supply and the gas passage;opening the first block valve to allow the empty detect gas to flow fromthe empty detect gas supply into the gas quantity controller; closingthe first block valve when a measured quantity of empty detect gas hasfilled the gas quantity controller; and opening the second block valveto allow the empty detect gas to flow from the gas quantity controllerinto the interior of the inner container via the gas passage.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein closing the first block valve when a measuredquantity of empty detect gas has filled the gas quantity controllercomprises: connecting a pressure regulator gauge between the emptydetect gas supply and the gas quantity controller for regulating thepressure in the gas quantity controller as the empty detect gas isintroduced into the gas quantity controller; and closing the first blockvalve when the measured quantity of empty detect gas has been introducedinto the gas quantity controller based upon the pressure in the gasquantity controller.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:sensing the empty detect gas when the liquid has been exhausted from theinner container; and terminating dispensing of the liquid to themanufacturing process when the empty detect gas is sensed.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: weighing the fluid containerwhile the liquid is dispensed to the manufacturing process; terminatingdispensing of the liquid to the manufacturing process when the fluidcontainer reaches an empty weight.
 12. A system for dispensing liquid toa manufacturing process from a container including an outer containerand an inner container, the inner container occupied by the liquid and aheadspace gas, the system comprising: a probe insertable into the innercontainer, the probe having a flow passage therein; a gas passagecommunicating between the interior of the inner container and anexterior of the outer container; means for forcing the headspace gas outof the inner container via the gas passage to a headspace gas drain andfor forcing liquid out of the inner container through the flow passagein the probe to the manufacturing process.
 13. The system of claim 12,further comprising: a drain valve connected between the headspace gasdrain and the gas passage, the drain valve having an open positionselectable to allow the headspace gas to evacuate to the headspace gasdrain via the gas passage, and a closed position selectable when theheadspace gas has been exhausted from the interior of the innercontainer.
 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a liquidsensor connected between the gas passage and the headspace gas drain tosense when liquid begins to flow in the gas passage to indicate that theheadspace gas has been exhausted from the interior of the innercontainer.
 15. The system of claim 12, further comprising: empty detectmeans for detecting when the liquid has been exhausted from the innercontainer.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the empty detect means isan empty detect gas sensor, the empty detect gas sensor sensing an emptydetect gas introduced to an interior of the inner container immediatelyprior to dispensing of the liquid to the manufacturing process.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, further comprising: a gas quantity controller; afirst block valve connected between an empty detect gas supply and thegas quantity controller, the first block valve having an open positionselectable to allow the empty detect gas to flow from the empty detectgas supply into the gas quantity controller, and a closed positionselectable when a measured quantity of empty detect gas has beenintroduced into the gas quantity controller; and a second block valveconnected between the gas quantity controller and an interior of theinner container, the second block valve having an open positionselectable to allow the empty detect gas to flow from the gas quantitycontroller to the interior of the inner container, and a closed positionselectable when the empty detect gas has been exhausted from the gasquantity controller.
 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising: apressure regulator gauge connected between the empty detect gas supplyand the gas quantity controller to regulate the pressure in the gasquantity controller as the empty detect gas is introduced into the gasquantity controller such that the first block valve is closed when themeasured quantity of empty detect gas has been introduced into the gasquantity controller based upon the pressure in the gas quantitycontroller.
 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising: a selectvalve having ports connected to the block valve, the headspace gasdrain, and the interior of the inner container, wherein the select valveallows selectable fluid connection of the block valve and the headspacegas drain to the interior of the inner container.
 20. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the empty detect means includes a scale for weighingthe fluid container while the liquid is dispensed to the manufacturingprocess such that dispensing of the liquid is terminated when the fluidcontainer reaches a predetermined weight as measured by the scale.
 21. Aliquid handling system comprising: a container which comprises: an outercontainer; an inner container having an interior; and wherein a portionof the inner container is occupied by the liquid, and a remainder of theinner container is occupied by a headspace gas; a connector attachableto the container, the connector including a probe insertable into theinner container and having a flow passage therein, the connector furtherincluding a gas passage communicating between the interior of the innercontainer and an exterior of the outer container; and a fluid air sourcein fluid communication with a space between inner walls of the outercontainer and the inner container for causing fluid under pressure toflow into the space between the inner walls of the outer container andthe inner container to force the headspace gas out of the innercontainer via the gas passage to a headspace gas drain and to forceliquid out of the inner container through the flow passage in the probeto the manufacturing process.
 22. The system of claim 21, furthercomprising: a liquid sensor connected between the gas passage and theheadspace gas drain to sense when liquid begins to flow in the gaspassage to indicate that the headspace gas has been exhausted from theinterior of the inner container.
 23. The system of claim 21, furthercomprising: empty detect means for detecting when the liquid has beenexhausted from the inner container.